Hill Voice, 2 July 2023, Rangamati: It has been alleged that three innocent Jumma youths were brutally beaten and harassed by the Bangladesh Army in Jurachari Sadar area of Jurachari Upazila under Rangamati District.

The victims have been identified as Sujan Khisa (25), Sattam Chakma (21) and Bikash Chakma (18). It is said that all their houses are in Rastamatha area of Jurachari Sadar.

According to local sources, on July 1, 2023 at around 10 o’clock in the night, after the electricity went out in the house, the victims Sujan Khisa, Sattam Chakma and Bikash Chakma, along with two other boys of their area, Satya Bikash Chakma (15) and Satya Alo Chakma, five people together went to Hangarachari Bridge to take a breath in open air near their house.

Then at around 11 o’clock in the night, a team of army under the leadership of Zone Commander of Banajogichara Army Zone, Md. Zulkifli Arman Bikhyata (PSC) arrived there. At that time, Zone Commander Md. Zulkifli Arman Bikhyata (PSC) interrogated the Jumma youths and teenagers staying at the Hangarachari Bridge various questions as ‘Where is your home, what are you doing here at night, what are you doing?’ etc. At one point, the Zone Commander slapped the cheeks of Sujan Khisa, Sattam Chakma and Bikash Chakma and beat them inhumanely with tree trunks. After the beating, the zone commander fired three times in the air with his firearm and left for the Jurachari headquarters with the army.

It is also known that before the said incident, around 10 pm, the said army personnel harassed and intimidated two innocent villagers named Nontu Dewan (60) and Puranda Chakma (35) in Jurachari Sadar area. Puranda Chakma is said to be a motorcycle driver by profession.